St. Mary’s Christmas In April Moves Beyond One-Day Event To Year-Round Help

MECHANICSVILLE, Md. — For more than three decades, Christmas in April St. Mary’s County, Inc., has been known for a single spring day of service, with volunteers fanning out across neighborhoods to repair roofs, build ramps and restore hope for homeowners in need.

This year, that day is becoming a mission without a deadline.

Under new leadership from President Ken Ritter, the longtime nonprofit is shifting from its traditional one-day April event to a year-round repair program designed to respond faster and serve more residents across St. Mary’s County.

“We are doing repair work differently this year,” said Executive Director Darene Kleinsorgen in an interview with The BayNet. “Our projects will not all be done in one day; they will be spread over the year. That way we will have no deadline and be able to help applicants sooner.”

The change comes amid some community confusion this past year, when a previous article led some to believe the program was ending. It is not. Instead, leaders say the organization is evolving to better meet growing and urgent needs.

In past years, homeowners who applied in January for critical repairs, such as a leaking roof or a wheelchair ramp, could face waits of more than a year before work began. By spreading projects throughout the calendar, the nonprofit aims to eliminate that delay.

“Having to tell someone in January that they need a roof or ramp they have to wait 18 months to get help will be in the past,” Kleinsorgen said.

The new model also allows skilled tradespeople, roofers, carpenters, electricians and other volunteers to work on projects as their schedules allow, rather than concentrating all labor on a single Saturday in April.

So far, the organization has inspected 33 applicant homes, with nine approved and on the project list. Inspections will continue throughout the year, and additional homeowners in need will be added as they are vetted. Five house captains have already selected their assigned homes, and the first project under the new system is scheduled to begin in March.

Founded to provide critical home repairs at no cost to elderly, disabled and low-income homeowners, Christmas in April St. Mary’s County partners with local businesses, churches and volunteers to keep residents safe and in their homes. Typical projects include roof replacements, accessibility ramps, floor repairs, plumbing fixes and other health and safety improvements.

Ritter said the year-round approach reflects both practical realities and a renewed commitment to the nonprofit’s core mission: “ensuring no neighbor has to live in unsafe conditions simply because they cannot afford repairs.”

By removing the pressure of a single-day deadline, leaders believe they can respond more quickly, make better use of volunteer expertise and expand their impact.

The organization also recently received a boost from the local business community. Taylor Gas Company awarded Christmas in April St. Mary’s County, Inc., a $2,000 gift as the first-place winner of its Season of Giving Campaign. In announcing the award on a recent Facebook post, Taylor Gas praised the nonprofit’s impact through critical home repairs, accessibility improvements and safe housing support for homeowners who lack the resources to complete the work themselves. Company officials said they were honored to support an organization “so dedicated to strengthening our community, one home and one family at a time,” and encouraged others across Southern Maryland to contribute to the group’s year-round mission.

The organization will hold a business meeting Wednesday at 5 p.m., where applications will be available for those interested in reviewing projects or getting involved. Community members are encouraged to attend, volunteer or offer suggestions as the nonprofit rolls out the updated process. Contact Darene Kleinsorgen, executive director, for more information on the meeting at (301) 884-2905.

For residents of St. Mary’s County who may have wondered whether the spring tradition had ended, leaders offer reassurance: the spirit of Christmas in April remains, now extended across all 12 months of the year.

Follow Christmas in April’s Facebook page and website for upcoming events and application links.

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